Attack

Concluding my look at Arsenal’s squad going into season 2009/10 is the review of the strikers.

Robin van Persie seems to have graduated to the role of first choice striker after a fine season in 2008/09 and the departure of Adebayor. He probably had his best season in an Arsenal shirt and this coincided with a spell without a serious injury, which have often blighted the Dutchman. 20 goals last season finally proved that he can be prolific in front of goal as well as providing for others, which seemed to be his strength. Has started this season well and despite not getting off the mark has looked good in front of goal and was unlucky not to score against Portsmouth and Man Utd. My biggest concern, with the exception of the aforementioned injuries is that he has started the season as the central striker when I think he would be better suited further out left or right in the front three we play with now.

This brings me on to our next striker, Nicklas Bendtner. Bendtner has started in a wide role and should probably play through the middle. It’s a strange one, to look at Bendtner you would say he is a typical big centre forward but the way he plays suggest that he or Wenger fancy him as something else. Often used on the left last season, he has started this season on the right of our front three. I can’t understand why he doesn’t swap with van Persie, after all this is a very similar role to the one van Persie plays for his national side. Having signed a new contract this week it’s a big season for Nicklas, especially as he is the main big man in the squad now his old friend Adebayor has left.

Eduardo is the best finisher in the squad and has looked sharp so far this season. Also has the benefit of being versatile enough to play anywhere across the front three. I hope all this rubbish about his dive doesn’t affect his confidence too much. Hopefully he can stay clear of the niggly injuries that he picked up at the end of last season and get back to his pre-injury form.

Theo Walcott has a big year ahead of him. A hat-trick away in Croatia for England looked like the moment when he may finally begin to regularly produce what his potential has hinted at for so long. Unfortunately an injury has delayed his start to the season but may be back after the international break. Another who could probably play anywhere in the front three, and also offers the most pace out of the strikers, Theo will be hoping to finally deliver this year and cement his place in the England squad, this time deservedly and not some bizarre experiment as it seemed to be in 2006.

Carlos Vela picked up an ankle injury while away with Mexico last month so he’s another one who has had his start to the season delayed. Also one who will benefit from the new formation as I think he looks a better bet in a more central role, if not as the main striker. Looked decent in spells last year, here’s hoping he can transfer some of his League Cup form over to the bigger games.

So there we have it, assuming nobody else emerges from the youth ranks, that is our squad until January. Going through it in this way has made me think we are stronger than I would have first thought. Perhaps a bit more strength in depth at centre back and a defensive central midfielder to cover Song (and maybe one of those world class goalkeepers I mentioned) would be a priority I guess but as far as first eleven goes we look in pretty good shape. Let us hope we have some luck with injuries, which we have lacked in each of the last two years, and perhaps we can achieve something this season with this squad.